One of the reasons why people use a VPN is because they want to enjoy streaming services from around the world, namely Netflix. From The Crown to Selling Sunset, there are a lot of shows on Netflix that are highly popular, and so it is of no surprise that you want to get in on the action! But, will you be able to do so with Avast, just like you can with NordVPN or ExpressVPN?
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DOES AVAST WORK WITH NETFLIX?
Unlike NordVPN, Avast does not work with Netflix. Things may change in the future, but as it stands, Netflix’s anti-VPN and geo-blocking technology are able to detect Avast’s servers, which means you will not be permitted access.
This can be a bit frustrating, especially if your primary reason for choosing a VPN is for streaming. The good news is that there are some good VPNs that do work with Netflix, so all hope is not lost!
If you would like to find out more about this VPN, aside from just finding out whether Avast works with Netflix, you can read my comprehensive Avast VPN review. I cover everything from speed to customer support, so you can get a well-rounded view of this VPN and whether or not it is right for you.
WHY CAN’T AVAST VPN UNBLOCK NETFLIX?
You may be wondering why Avast VPN is unable to unblock Netflix, especially when other VPNs can do so successfully. While Avast may have a great name in the world of security, the VPN network is very limited. They don’t have a lot of servers when compared with other VPNs, approximately 55 servers in total. At NordVPN, they have more than 5,200 servers across the world, so you really can see the difference!
To understand why this matters, we need to look at what a VPN has to go through in order to give you access to Netflix. Firstly, it needs to get past the geo-restrictions that Netflix has implemented. Next, it needs to avoid detection! This is a lot easier said than done, with advanced security tools required.
Netflix has software in place that blacklists IP addresses link with VPN servers automatically. It can determine whether traffic is coming from an IP address that is associated with a VPN server if it notices any encryption. Furthermore, if an IP address seems to be used by numerous users, it will be flagged and often blocked. This is something that happens a lot if the VPN provider only has a small number of servers and unique IP addresses.
The most powerful and biggest VPN providers, such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN, have networks that consist of thousands of servers, which they expand and update all of the time. Should one of their servers be detected by Netflix, they can switch to one of their other servers within that location to ensure that the user can still enjoy Netflix without interruption.
This is where the problem with Avast really lies. Their server network is very small. So, when Netflix spots a server, the options are limited in terms of switching to another server to ensure uninterrupted service. Therefore, if you are lucky enough to get into Netflix, it is likely that this will not last for long.
SHOULD I USE AVAST VPN?
There are a lot of great features associated with Avast VPN, as my review reveals. However, if your main reason for wanting a VPN is to access streaming services like Netflix, this is not the VPN for you.
HOW HAS AVAST VPN MANAGED TO GET SO MANY DOWNLOADS IF IT DOES NOT WORK WITH NETFLIX?
Avast VPN has been downloaded by 435 million people. That’s a lot of downloads, right? So, you may assume that it is the best product on the market and it can cater to all of your streaming needs. However, downloads can be very deceiving. Whenever a product has a free download element, the downloads skyrocket. It is free, after all! So, a lot of people have used Avast VPN for the free seven-day period, but they have not necessarily continued with the paid version.
A producer could decide to license their material to Sky in America and the BBC in the UK for example. This means that the geographic restrictions imposed by copyright holders become of great importance to broadcasters.
WHAT VPN SHOULD I USE FOR NETFLIX?
If you are looking for a good VPN for streaming purposes, I would highly recommend NordVPN. NordVPN has a great reputation in the industry, and you can read my NordVPN review to find out everything you need to know about it. Here, I will focus on NordVPN from a Netflix point-of-view, but there are plenty of other great features, which my review on NordVPN goes into in full.
So, what makes NordVPN such a great choice for Netflix? Well, NordVPN is a powerful VPN provider, which has a huge number of servers all across the world. At the moment, the VPN powerhouse has more than 5,400 servers! However, this number grows all of the time.
5,400 or 55 servers? You see the difference already, right? With such a high number of servers all around the world, NordVPN has all of the artillery that is required to take on the anti-VPN and geoblocking systems that Netflix has implemented.
Plus, with servers in many countries around the world (60+), with NordVPN, you can access different versions of Netflix, depending on the library you want to unblock. Every server is obfuscated automatically, which means that are extra protections in place to stop the VPN blockers at Netflix from detecting your VPN use!
Should the unthinkable happen and Netflix detect that you are using a NordVPN server, it is really not the end of the world. Simply disconnect from that server and choose another one instead. There is SmartPlay technology at NordVPN that will do this for you! This is a default setting on every account, which detects the best server for streaming what you wish to watch automatically. Pretty cool, right?
Buffering is not something you are going to need to worry about with Netflix, either. The extensive server network means that the performance is great, so you will get a taste and smooth streaming. No lagging here!
WHAT OTHER VPNS CAN UNBLOCK NETFLIX SUCCESSFULLY?
There are a number of other VPNs that I would recommend if you are looking for a good solution to unblock Netflix. This includes the following:
- ExpressVPN – Another VPN with an exceptional reputation in the industry is ExpressVPN. You can read my ExpressVPN review for more information about this platform. You can expect privacy protection, strong security, high-speed connections, and access to a whole host of Netflix libraries. A good thing about ExpressVPN is that you can try it risk-free for 30 days!
- Surfshark – Surfshark is fairly new to the VPN game, having been established in 2018. However, it has made massive waves since then, and one of the reasons for this is because it is effective at unblocking Netflix libraries in many countries. It also provides a great assortment of security features and a no-logs policy too.
- PrivateVPN – PrivateVPN is an excellent choice for Netflix streaming. With a no-logs policy, servers across 60 countries, and high speeds, it is not difficult to see why!
- CyberGhost – Finally, CyberGhost is another VPN that I would recommend for Netflix. It is versatile, fast, and great for beginners. You can expect one-click unblocking for Netflix, pre-configured security features, and 24/7 live chat.
FINAL WORDS
We hope that this has helped you to get a better understanding of using Netflix with Avast, as well as the better options that are available to you. If you are looking for a VPN for streaming purposes, I would recommend either NordVPN or ExpressVPN.
Don’t forget to check out my post on the best VPNs for Netflix for some further options and insight!